Day v. Ferguson

1927 OK 426, 263 P. 126, 129 Okla. 22, 1927 Okla. LEXIS 491
Supreme Court of Oklahoma·Decided November 22, 1927·No. 17646·Published·Cited by 5 cases

Opinion

FOSTER, C.

This appeal is brought from the district court of Comanche county in an action on a contract to reverse a judgment in favor of plaintiffs, and defendant appeals.

The plaintiffs below were partners conducting a dramatic show, and the defendant below was the owner of the Dome Theatre at Lawton. The petition alleges that plaintiffs and defendant entered into a contract by letters and telegrams whereby the plaintiffs were to furnish a stock company consisting of eight people and put on programs at the Dome Theatre for four weeks beginning February 11, 1925, the receipts to be divided equally, with a guarantee to plaintiffs of $325 a week. All of the letters and telegrams are attached to plaintiffs’ petition as exhibits.

It is alleged that the defendant, without cause, canceled the contract after plaintiffs had put on shows for about 11 days, and that by reason thereof plaintiffs were damaged in the sum of $1,752.52 as actual damages and $1,500 as punitive or exemplary damages.

A demurrer to the petition was filed, which was overruled and exceptions saved, and the defendant thereafter filed her answer in which she denied generally the allegations in the plaintiffs’ petition, but admits that a contract was entered into, but was not the same as set up in plaintiffs’ petition, and that the contract was not carried out in good faith, and that she was damaged in the sum of $400 on account of the loss of business and reputation to her theatre. A reply in the nature of a general denial was filed, and thereafter, without any order or permission, the defendant files an amended and supplemental answer in which she alleges, in addition to the things set out in her original answer, that the plaintiffs caused her great annoyance, increased expense, and loss of business to her injury in the sum of $1,000; that the plaintiffs did not bring experienced actors, did not furnish a music director, and that there were certain objectionable features in their performances, and praying for a judgment against plaintiffs in the sum of $1,000. No reply was filed to this amended and supplemental answer, but both parties proceeded to trial before a jury without any objection.

The letters and telegrams exchanged between plaintiffs and defendant are as follows :

“Jan. 15, 1925.
“Manager Dome Theatre, Lawton, Okla. Can offer Fergiuson Bros, stock aompany open first week Feb. 4 weeks or longer three bills a week terms fifty-fifty guarantee company share three hundred' and seventy-five dollars each week eight people address Stratford Hotel Ferguson Bros”
“Jan. 16, 1925.
“Ferguson Stock Go., Stratford Hotel, Houston, Tex. Can use your bill opening Feb, eleventh as per letter. Dome Theatre”
“Jan. 16, 1925.
“Ferguson Stock Company, Houston, Texas. Gentlemen: As per my wire of to-day, I could book you for 4-weeks starting Feb. lilth on condition I do not have to spend too much money to run your show. This house has not taken in less than from $1,000, $700 per week for many months, we are a picture house, and could not stop the matinees, therefore, it would be necessary to use pictures, or you give two shows daily, to keep my people, I do not know whether that would pay you or not. Also, we have only two men at present, both, who are good on the stage, but cannot for one month’s time, build scenery. If you have some scenery of your own we could perhaps get along with what we have, which will have to be done if I book you. I take it you have a music director. Now, in a nutshell, if you care to come with the above accommodations, two stage men, scenery on hand, with a $300' guarantee per week, let me know. We have two new drops, cloth, purple and green since you were here. Yours truly, Margaret Day”
“Jan. 18, 1925.
“Margaret Day, Manager Dome Theatre, Lawton, Okla. Returned from Dallas wire received everything OK open February eleventh terms fifty-fifty guarantee company’s share three hundred and seventy-five dollars per week four weeks or longer three bills a week eight people have a one lobby display advise amount of billings required immediately by wire Stratford hotel. Ferguson Bros”

*24 (Above telegram sent in reply to wire of Jan. 16th and before above letter of Jan. 16th was received.)

“Jan 20, 1925.
“Margaret Day, Dome Theatre Lawton, Okla. Letter just received two stage hands scenery 'on hand satisfactory. We carry special scenery can decide on matinees on arrival you furnish pictures as per letter four weeks engagement starting Feb. 11th. Terms fifty-fifty guarantee company share on each week three hundred and twenty-five dollars. This is the lowest remember we have a big jump to Lawton. Ferguson Bros”
“Jan 21, 1925.
“Ferguson Bros., Stratford Hotel, Houston, Tex. Can use four weeks as wire Jan twenty and letter mail contract. Margaret Day”
“Jan 22, 1925.
“Margaret Day, Dome Theatre, Lawton, Okla. Will be there for opening date letter follows. Ferguson Bros”

All of these letters and telegrams were attached to plaintiffs’ original petition, except the telegram of January 22nd, and all were introduced in evidence and admitted by both parties. The wire of January 22nd was introduced at the trial, and, by permission of the court and without objection, the petition was amended to include the last mentioned telegram.

The testimony disclosed that, pursuant to said letters and telegrams, the plaintiff company came to Lawton, and, by an oral agreement between the plaintiffs and defendant, a “jazz” orchestra was employed to play during the performance of the plaintiffs; the expense of the orchestra to be divided equally between the plaintiffs and defendant, each paying $75 per week. Under this arrangement, the show opened and continued for about 11 days, at which time the defendant refused to allow the orchestra to play and a dispute arose on which the testimony is conflicting, but apparently the plaintiff company signified its intention of not continuing the show unless the orchestra was retained as per contract. The defendant thereupon turned out the lights and pulled down the curtain so that the plaintiff company could, not perform longer. There is also some testimony that defendant put a sign on the outside of the theatre that there would be no show.

There is a conflict in the testimony as to the conditions under which the orchestra was employed, the plaintiffs contending that if it were satisfactory the first night, it was to remain the entire length of the contract, and the defendant contending that she had a right to discharge it after the first week. There is also a conflict in that defendant claims she objected to the orchestra from the very beginning, while plaintiffs contend that no objection was made until the date that defendant turned out the lights and pulled down the curtain and refused to allow plaintiffs to continue their performance.

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Day v. Ferguson, 1927 OK 426, 263 P. 126, 129 Okla. 22, 1927 Okla. LEXIS 491 (Okla. 1927).

1927 OK 426 (Day v. Ferguson) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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